Victrola XVI Moorish Marquetry found

[JohnM]

Can anyone translate the arabic(?) lettering (writing) which is on the accessory drawer front, lid front, sides and other places?

"There is no vanquisher except Allah" Is what I have been told.

Almost as scary as Christian beliefs!

[walser]

Let's keep this thread focused on the machine and nothing else.

I will post my findings today or tomorrow regarding the past of this machine and future plans.

Regards

Pedro

[Phono-Phan]

Pedro,
Thanks for steering this thread back on track. I really look forward to hearing more about this awesome phonograph's history and restoration.
Ken

[walser]

Hi again.

So, here are my findings after some very interesting discussions with the owner one of them and some of the most renowned specialists on Victrolas:

- There's no proof that 12 were made. Until now, two were known to exist but there's only pictures of one. So this is the 3rd one that arrived to nowadays.
- The plain motorboard is the only piece without marquetry and this is consistent with the other documented unit.
- The marquetry was not made in Morocco but in Spain as stated on the December 15th 1911 issue of the "The Talking Machine World" Newsletter:

WANAMAKER VICTROLA EXHIBITION.

The largest Victrola exhibition that was ever held in New York was just concluded at the Wanamaker stores. The large auditorium was used, and over three hundred Victrolas were placed on the main floor, which has a seating capacity of nearly one thousand persons. The decorative features produced by flowers, rugs, hangings, lamps and regular "stage settings" gave the appearance of a typical Eastern bazaar.

The seats in the gallery were not disturbed, and five to six hundred people remained throughout the day listening to the recitals of the Red Seal record artists which were featured continuously, in fact all day long. The pipe organ accompaniment to these records was wonderful and put the seats at a premium. Many records, principally the Broadway hits and popular numbers, were also accompanied on the piano.

The Victrola daily sales were the largest in the history of the Wanamaker store, and exceeded all previous records. No type of Victrola less than $50 were sold, and none but the style XVI at $200 were shown at all in the exhibition. The exhibition was especially attractive, inasmuch as every style wood and finish were represented, not only the $200 style, but it included the De Luxe Louis XV in gold and Verni Martin, also the imported Moorish mother of pearl design made at the Alhambra, which is price marked at $750.

The marketing of Victrolas on this high plane is only a continuation of the Wanamaker's method of doing business, and which outgenerals all competitors, and which is wholly due to the experience and foresight of the management, which is vested in the buyer of the New York store musical department, Louis Jay Gerson, who has been in active charge for the past three years.

The Alhambra (pronounced [alħamˈraːʔ], lit. 'The Red One') is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. It was originally constructed as a small fortress in 889 CE on the remains of ancient Roman fortifications, and then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-13th century by the Arab Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada, who built its current palace and walls. It was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada. After the conclusion of the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella (where Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his expedition), and the palaces were partially altered in the Renaissance style.

There's since then a tradition of making very fine furniture with the famous "Moorish marquetry" called "Taracea" in Spanish that is still done nowadays. You can see a video of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n0f0vf_N1s. The technique is basically the same but the materials used are in some cases different due to modern regulations.

- The electric motor is from a Columbia electric gramophone or a dictaphone. The connector between the tonearm and horn is not original, (albeit beautifully done) so, the consensus is that this machine came from the Victor factory to Spain to have the marquetry done but, for some unknown reason, it never went back to the USA to be finished with the motor and all Victor hardware.

We have decided to remove all the non Victor original components and finish the machine like the factory would have done. That said, I'm looking to buy an entire L-door Victrola with the wood in poor condition but complete to make the transplant of all the components. So, If you have one for sale, please contact me.

Regards,

Pedro Martinez
www.pedrofono.es

[gramophone78]

That said, I'm looking to buy an entire L-door Victrola with the wood in poor condition but complete to make the transplant of all the components. So, If you have one for sale, please contact me.

Regards,

Pedro Martinez
www.pedrofono.es

Pedro, I would suggest placing a wanted ad in our Yankee Trader for better exposure. There are a couple L-doors already for sale on there now, I beleve.
Hope that helps.

[walser]

Thank you. Yes, there's one that is the perfect donor.

[PHONOMAN]

When will the auction take place? Will shipping to the US be available?
Thanks